Make Travel Easy On Your Senior

I’m sure that your parents can reminisce about the days when they lugged a passel of screaming kids, and all the stuff that go along with them, on a trip. Now that your parents are climbing up into their senior/elderly years, they shouldn’t feel as if they are destined to be homebodies for the rest of their lives. It’s not hard to travel with a senior, in fact, the trip can be rather enjoyable. The key is to perceive things through the eyes of your senior, and do everything you can to make the experience comfortable for everyone.

Necessary Paper Work For Any Trip

The first thing you need to do before you leave to go anywhere with a senior, is to make sure that all of their medical information is written down. A copy should be kept with your senior, and you should keep one, as well. This paper should list the senior’s name, address, contact phone number, doctors phone number, list of all medications your senior takes, allergies, and any health conditions he or she may have. It is good to also list any prior hospitalizations that your senior may have had, along with their blood type. Having this documentation with you will make any medical issues that arise on your trip go easier to deal with. You can simply hand over the papers to the treating physician. This will save you worry over forgetting anything important, and it will also ensure that your senior receives the correct medical care in an emergency.

Air Travel With Your Senior

If you are traveling by plane on your trip, you should book your flight away from peak hours. You should notify the airline of any special conditions that your senior may have, such as a walker or wheelchair. You can also request that a cart or tram be available for your senior if the boarding gate is miles away from the airport entrance. You may also want to consider getting information about the boarding procedures, as well as baggage handling. This may save you unnecessary stress when you and your senior do arrive at the airport. When you pack for a flight, you should carry all medication in a carry on bag in case luggage is lost. If luggage is lost, you can be confident that your senior will at least have their medications. If you are on a flight that is short and you will not have food provided, pack a little something for you and your loved one to nibble on during the flight. If your senior seems to chill easily, make sure that they receive a blanket, or that you have an extra jacket in your carry on bag.